The compressor is the workshop's lungs

The compressor is the workshop's lungs

The compressor is the workshop's lungs

By Kim Lesanner, Motormagasinet

Stenhøj has been producing compressed air since 1930, and with proper servicing, a blue compressor can ensure the workshop’s air for half a century.

The Compressor – the Heart of the Workshop
In countless Danish auto repair shops, there stands a piece of indispensable equipment that often goes unnoticed in daily operations – the compressor that supplies the workshop with compressed air for air tools, air guns, tire inflation, and various workshop machines.

Danish-produced Compressed Air Through Decades
Danish technicians still work in the workshop in Barrit near Vejle, assembling the blue compressors from scratch. The compressor has been part of STENHØJ's product range since 1930. Thus, the well-known blue Stenhøj piston compressor, renowned for its lifespan of up to 40-50 years or even more, is commonly found in many workshops.

So, what makes this compressor unique?
"The hallmark of our blue piston compressor is the use of high-quality components and castings, as well as a tested and well-documented quality product," says Søren V. Olesen from Stenhøj DK.

"Our compressor is undoubtedly one of the most expensive on the market in terms of initial cost, but it is also the product with the lowest operating costs and longest lifespan – and therefore, the most cost-effective product when considering lifecycle costs, which we will always argue for."

Stenhøj screw compressors are characterized by a broad range that can be supplied as stand-alone units or as complete systems with tanks and integrated dryers. Regardless of the solution, Stenhøj offers a 6-year warranty on major components and a full 10-year warranty on the screw unit itself.

STENHØJ's compressor technicians visit workshops across the country every day. The workshop's hidden heart. The compressor is often found tucked away in a corner.

STENHØJ's compressor technicians visit workshops across the country every day.

The workshop's hidden heart. The compressor is often found tucked away in a corner.

 

The Right Choice of Solution
However, the most important aspect is choosing the right compressor for the workshop's needs and actual consumption.

There has been a bit of "inflation" in workshops wanting to replace their well-functioning compressors with screw compressors. This can be a sensible choice in some cases, but it largely depends on the need for compressed air and the continuity of air consumption.

A piston compressor is clearly the right choice for varying compressed air needs, as is often the case in an auto repair shop. Conversely, for a workshop with high continuous air consumption, such as a body shop, paint booth, or underbody treatment, a screw compressor is often the most economical and operationally correct solution, as it performs best and most economically with a continuous compressed air demand of 80-100%.

Quality of Compressed Air
Many workshops face challenges with defective or rapidly worn-out air tools – this is often traced back to moisture in the compressed air. This issue can be addressed in several ways, including selecting the correct compressor size, ensuring tight piping, and expanding the system with a refrigerated dryer, cyclone, filter systems, and automatic water drains.

A refrigerated dryer removes moisture and condensate from the air.

A cyclone is placed before the refrigerated dryer and removes condensate from the compressed air system.

An automatic water drain detects the water level in the tank and discharges the water. It is available with a sensor or a timer-controlled option.

Compressor Service
Servicing compressors is a good investment that helps ensure a long lifespan and lower operating costs.

For screw compressors, the service interval is often determined by the operating hours, while a piston compressor is typically maintained and serviced on an annual basis.

Mandatory Inspection of Pressure Vessels
Any business with pressure vessels must ensure that installation checks and mandatory 2 and 4-year inspections are carried out.

It is the owner's responsibility to ensure the compressed air system is inspected at the applicable intervals.

Before the vessel is inspected, it must be prepared by, for example, Stenhøj's service technicians, and the safety valve and other components must be replaced.

What About a New Workshop with Lower Air Needs?
To address the needs of a new workshop, which often involves many larger investments at startup, Stenhøj has also introduced a more affordable series of piston compressors.

 

 

"We do not hide that our gray compressor series is not of the same quality as our own produced blue piston compressors, but we have chosen an external supplier that we trust in terms of quality and spare parts – and therefore recommend it for a workshop with a lower need," says Søren V. Olesen.

The "hidden" piece of equipment in the workshop should not be forgotten – it should ideally function as an invisible supply source in everyday operations. However, choosing the right solution and ongoing maintenance provides the best and most cost-effective solution both in the short and long term.

The well-known blue STENHØJ compressor is still produced in Denmark at the Barrit factory.

The well-known blue STENHØJ compressor is still produced in Denmark at the Barrit factory.

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